Chapter 286: Sea-Fixing Divine Pearl, Secret Realm Rankings

Zhou Chen's eyes lit up. He strode over and grabbed the pearl directly in his hand.

[Congratulations to the Host for intercepting the Child of Destiny Gu Jifeng's Imperial Rank Top-Grade Vast Sea Underworld Pearl, triggering a ten-thousand-fold return!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Immortal Rank Low Grade Sea-Fixing Divine Pearl!]

"Claim!"

As Zhou Chen muttered in his heart, another deep blue pearl instantly appeared in his hand.

The volume of this pearl was a size larger than the Vast Sea Underworld Pearl, and the power contained within had surged by more than ten thousand times. It was surrounded by a dense Immortal Qi, with the power of invisible laws rippling outward.

Immortal Rank Low Grade Sea-Fixing Divine Pearl!

"Another Immortal Rank treasure!"

Zhou Chen couldn't help but laugh out loud.

This was the legendary Sea-Fixing Divine Pearl, possessing the terrifying ability to suppress sea regions and stabilize space!

He felt the majestic power coming from the pearl, his heart filled with excitement.

"This thing is perfect for stabilizing the Small World!"

Zhou Chen didn't stay inside the pagoda; he turned to leave.

But at that moment, the entire Buddhist pagoda suddenly began to vibrate violently.

"Not good!"

Zhou Chen's expression changed.

After the Vast Sea Underworld Pearl was taken, the Buddhist pagoda lost its core support and was actually starting to collapse!

"Formless Immortal Traces!"

His figure transformed into a golden light, instantly rushing out of the Buddhist pagoda.

Just as he left the pagoda gates, the nine-story Buddhist pagoda behind him collapsed with a crash, turning into countless fragments.

"Phew…"

Zhou Chen let out a long sigh of relief. Looking at the ruins on the ground, he shook his head.

"It's just a pity for the treasures inside this ancient pagoda."

However, he soon felt relieved.

Anyway, the treasure was already in hand; if the pagoda collapses, so be it.

Zhou Chen found a safe place and sat down cross-legged.

"Let's test the effect of the Sea-Fixing Divine Pearl first."

With a thought, his consciousness sank into the Small World within his body.

Inside Zhou Chen's Small World, it was currently lush and green.

Although it had a basic framework, the space was not stable enough, and slight cracks would appear in the distant edge regions from time to time.

Zhou Chen placed the Sea-Fixing Divine Pearl into the core of the Small World.

Buzz—

As soon as the pearl entered the Small World, it immediately erupted with a brilliant light.

Terrifying law power spread out from the pearl, instantly enveloping the entire Small World.

Those unstable spatial cracks quickly healed under the power of suppression.

The spatial strength of the entire Small World surged at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Ten times, twenty times, thirty times…

Ultimately, the spatial strength of the Small World increased by a full hundred times!

Moreover, the Small World, which was originally only a thousand miles in radius, had now expanded to ten thousand miles.

"Too strong!"

Zhou Chen opened his eyes, his face full of surprise.

With the Sea-Fixing Divine Pearl suppressing it, his Small World was not only incredibly stable but its space had also expanded tenfold.

In the future, he could not only store more things but also plant Spirit Medicine and raise Spirit Beasts inside, creating a true paradise. What was even more exaggerated was the boost to his Physical Body defense; during battle, he could disperse the enemy's attacks into the Small World, greatly increasing the amount of damage his body could withstand.

"This trip to the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm has yielded so much."

Zhou Chen stood up, feeling in high spirits.

Not only did he get his hands on the Great Sun Dao Bone and the Sea-Fixing Divine Pearl—two Immortal Rank treasures—but he also bound Gu Jifeng, this Child of Destiny. In the future, there would be a continuous stream of Opportunities to reap.

—

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Deep within the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm, one teleportation array after another lit up, transporting the Cultivators within the Secret Realm to the nearest exit.

Zhou Chen stood in the light of a teleportation array, his figure gradually blurring.

The next second, the scene before his eyes changed, and he appeared on a massive plaza.

In the center of the plaza stood a high platform, where several Elders presiding over the Heavenly Pride Grand Assembly were standing.

Hundreds of Cultivators had already gathered around, all of whom were Prodigies who had come out of the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm.

"Feng Biao!"

Seeing Zhou Chen, Star Child immediately came forward to meet him, his face full of excitement: "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Zhou Chen shook his head.

He was still maintaining Feng Biao's appearance, and the disguise of the Divine Concealment Art had no flaws whatsoever.

"That's great!"

Star Child breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his voice: "The tallying of the ancient desolate spirit pearls will happen in a moment, you…"

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Zhou Chen smiled.

He had collected quite a few ancient desolate spirit pearls in the Secret Realm, including many ancient desolate spirit pearl kings. Zhou Chen was not worried.

"That's good then."

Star Child nodded, but there was still some worry in his eyes.

After all, those participating in this assembly were the top Prodigies of various major forces in the Eastern Desolation; who knew how many spirit pearls they had collected.

Star Child said in a low voice: "Little friend, it's enough that you came out alive. This Secret Realm was exceptionally dangerous; many Geniuses died. Rankings and such are not important."

Seeing Zhou Chen's face full of disdain, Star Child simply stopped acting and asked in a heavy voice: "Little friend, how was your harvest? Are you confident?"

"It's alright."

Zhou Chen said indifferently, not letting the old man rejoice just yet.

Curiosity flashed in Star Child's eyes, but he did not continue to press.

Everyone has secrets, and he didn't want to meddle in other people's business.

"Just do your best, there's no need to force it."

Star Child laughed and patted Zhou Chen's shoulder: "In any case, by being able to represent our Heavenly Star Holy Land in the competition, you have already fulfilled the agreement."

Zhou Chen nodded, taking it as a tacit acknowledgment, and didn't speak.

Just then, the light of the teleportation array gradually dimmed, and no more people were teleported out.

All the Cultivators had arrived; those who survived or managed to reach the teleportation points in time had all gathered in the central plaza of Heavenly Pride City.

As for the others, God knows; everyone assumed they had met with misfortune and died in the Secret Realm.

The plaza was packed with people, a dense sea of faces.

Besides the competing Genius Cultivators, there were also Elders and Family Heads of various major forces, as well as countless spectating Cultivators.

On the high platform, Long Yan, who was presiding over the assembly, had already taken his place.

"Everyone."

Long Yan spoke, his voice spreading throughout the field: "The Ancient Desolate Secret Realm trial has ended. Now, we shall begin determining the rankings."

"The rules are simple, based on the quantity of ancient desolate spirit pearls. One ancient desolate spirit pearl counts as one point, and one ancient desolate spirit pearl king counts as one hundred points."

"The one with the highest score will be the first place of this Heavenly Pride Grand Assembly!"

As his words fell, a commotion broke out in the plaza.

"Let's begin, ranking from the hundredth place upward."

Long Yan waved his hand, and a light screen unfolded in the air, displaying the real-time rankings.

The Cultivators one after another took out the ancient desolate spirit pearls they had collected and handed them to the deacons responsible for the tallying.

"Heavenly Sword Sect, Li Xiaoyao, thirty-two ancient desolate spirit pearls!"

"Ying Family, Ying Zi'ang, forty-one ancient desolate spirit pearls!"

"Jiang Family, Jiang Tianxing, fifty-six ancient desolate spirit pearls!"

Name after name flashed on the light screen, and the rankings were constantly updated.

Zhou Chen stood in the crowd, waiting quietly.

However, Gu Jifeng's name was not there. Zhou Chen couldn't help but sigh; as expected of the King of Hiding, he never exposes himself in public.

Then he scanned the field but did not see Xi Linger's figure.

"It seems she has already left on her own."

Zhou Chen thought to himself.

People from the Ten Thousand Demon Clan were not originally on the participant list; they joined the competition to obtain ancient desolate spirit pearl kings. The spirit pearl king Zhou Chen gave to Xi Linger was enough to make other members of the Ten Thousand Demon Clan green with envy, so Xi Linger's departure was within expectations.